Introducing SpeedDatingCupid.com

The internet has made a lot of things easier in our lives, and sometimes I wonder how people met each other before the era of dating websites. Have you ever noticed that the popularity of different dating sites seems to change over time? In order to improve your chances of meeting people, it can help to try new and different sites.

One of the latest sites I've heard about is https://speeddatingcupid.com/. This site is described as a place for speed dating, where it only takes a minute to register and start connecting with potential dates.

New people across the US are joining the site and uploading their profiles daily. The site has several features to allow you to meet people in a low-key way. For example, you can easily set up friend lists, and you can send messages or winks to other people on the site. It's free to sign up and get started using the site. There is also a premium level available for those who want to try more features.

Some other cool things about the site are that it has a blog where you can find articles about love and dating related topics, and the site runs contests where you can win prizes like a free premium subscription.

With a free site like this, what can you lose? Check it out and let me know what you think by sharing your experience in the comments below.

Meet Lenny and Louise, Creators of Secret Little Sparks

In the words of the creators of Secret Little Sparks (a card game for couples): "We are Lenny and Louise, a French-American couple! We met in 2012 in Berlin, Germany and been traveling around the world since then. This project is our intro into entrepreneurship, and we're having so much fun. We've done everything ourselves from the graphic design for the cards to building the website. Hope you enjoy it!"

Learn more by visiting SecretLittleSparks.com.

Lenny has answered the questions below...

1. What gave you the idea to create a card game in the first place?

I thought of the game while I was in California after we got married and she had returned home to France. Our relationship has had many chunks of time apart due to visa issues and our exploratory nature. During these breaks, I would really miss her, but just spending time daydreaming about her felt like a waste, even fake. So I tried to be more productive, and instead of just daydreaming, I would think of fun things we could do together when were reunited. Getting married was a first for both of us and little scary, so I focused on thinking of ways to help our sex life stay vibrant, and the idea for this game was born. A pitch for a business we could do together and the first six cards drawn by hand were my Christmas present to her one year ago.

2. What has been the most fun part of the process of creating the entire game (and business) yourselves--and what has been the most challenging part?

The most fun part for me was learning to use Inkscape. I'd never done any graphic design work before. But the fact that you can download this amazing open source software for free, and the fact that there are thousands of YouTube videos teaching you how to use it, made me happy to be alive at this time. The most challenging part was making sure the cards worked for all genders and preferences. Removing gender specificity from the cards wasn't as easy as I thought it would be, but something we both agreed was necessary.

3. How did you come up with the actions for the cards?

We've both had a pretty diverse history of sexual experiences and partners, from vanilla to...extremely not vanilla. So this part was kinda easy. Also with our experience we knew from the beginning that if we wanted to make a game that really pushed boundaries, not everyone would like every card. We actually have way more cards than fit into the deck, so expect an expansion pack on the horizon.

4. I like that your game differs from many games for couples in that you've designed it to be very inclusive. How would you define "couples," in contrast with more conservative notions of straight, monogamous pairings?

Haha I think this is my favorite question. We're not a straight monogamous pairing; we've been polyamorous since our relationship started. So "couple" to us means two people who choose to share each other. It is in no way indicative of gender or exclusivity. Everyone loves, and everyone should have the freedom to love whomever they choose. Our game is made to help two people explore a sexual relationship together, and we would not have been satisfied if anyone that fit our definition of "couple" couldn't play.

5. What else would you like readers to know about you and/or Secret Little Sparks?

We see Secret Little Sparks more like a project than a product. So if you have any ideas you want to share or if you want to personalize your game by designing some of your own cards, contact us! Our game is made and shipped one at a time, so we are very flexible! Help us help you! team@secretlittlesparks.com

Thanks, Lenny!

Introducing Cowan Introductions

How many single people live in the United States? This question inspired the creation of New York City's Cowan Introductions. The company's founder and professional matchmaker Ms. Lorene Cowan works every day to help people who want to find true love.

Ms. Cowan herself was born and raised in New York City and holds a bachelor's in Communications. She started her matchmaking career as she worked on various projects in wellness and life coaching and found a natural focus on topics ranging from finding love to working through personal life issues. With Cowan Introductions, Ms. Cowan provides a service in areas of life too often neglected due to hectic schedules and busy lifestyles.

Cowan Introductions offers a different type of matchmaking service. The company differentiates itself from competitors by offering a concierge experience for its clients. Ms. Cowan is a Certified Life Coach, and before a client begins going out on dates, she sets up a coaching session with him or her to see if he or she is really committed to the process. This is separate from the client's initial consultation. Step two, she sets up a mock date to test the client's dating skills. If a client is in need of a makeover, a stylist will be provided to help adjust the client's image. Step three is to set the client up with a compatible match. Step four, Ms. Cowan will plan the date and set it up. After the date, she will have a conversation with her client and the client's date for feedback and to figure out the next step.

In addition to offering matchmaking services, she also coordinates Just Us Single Ladies Seminars. During these monthly events, women come together to discuss challenges in relationships. In a 90-minute semiar, Ms. Cowan offers advice on how to successfully date as a professional single woman. She is also at work on her first book, Just Us Single Ladies: A Matchmaker's Formula for Attracting, Engaging and Keeping the Man You Want.

Ms. Cowan was once a client for a very high-end matchmaking company and did not receive the service she deserved as a paying client. Though this experience was disappointing, it became clear to her that the high-volume environment, which is common in traditional matchmaking agencies, could not offer the personalized service that is needed when connecting two people. From this experience, Ms. Cowan found the desire to improve the matchmaking experience. She is now devoted to providing exceptional customer service that her elite clientele deserves.

Can a Website Save a Marriage?

I tend to think of Facebook when it comes to people utilizing social media to share personal experiences and seek feedback and support. But what about a situation where you want to remain anonymous? A blogger named Greg recently set up a website, http://www.lisaandgregforever.com, to share the story of his troubled marriage and to seek advice from women everywhere.

The site's about page gives the backstory of the marriage from Greg's perspective, and he explains that he has set up the site "to express to the world the love and devotion" he feels for his wife. As I read the long explanation of the series of events that led up to their current situation (on the brink of divorce) and also read the latest posts on the site, I got the impression that Greg's wife has currently cut off communication with him, so the website seems to be functioning as a place for him to express to her the things that he is unable to say in direct communication with her right now.

Part of the purpose of the site is to help Greg figure out what to do to help the situation. He wants to save his marriage, and readers are writing in with ideas and advice for him. There's an ongoing discussion on the comments page of the site where Greg interacts with readers who give him feedback. To be honest, I have to wonder what his wife will think about this conversation, but I imagine he hopes she'll think that he's trying everything and keeping an open mind.

I'm not sure how I would feel to discover that someone had set up a website to troubleshoot difficulties in a relationship with me, but I do understand the feeling of hopelessness and helplessness that comes with loss. As a writer, I especially understand that processing experiences in writing is important when it comes to dealing with difficulties in our lives; Greg can't control what will happen with his wife, but he can freely express his emotions and experiences in writing, and in the end, isn't that one of the main things that blogs are made for?

A New Book by B. Grace

B. Grace, the author of Mr. or Ms. Just Right, is happily married with a wonderful son. She graduated from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, CA and now resides in North Carolina with her family. As an artist, she makes sure the brush strokes on the canvas of her life are filled with beauty. Mr. or Ms. Just Right is now available in both paperback and ebook format.

Whether you're single, dating, or married, B. Grace says that the advice in these pages will help you take the confusion out of romance and give you a reality-based, common-sense approach to making all potential relationships succeed to their fullest.

Inspired by her experiences working in her family's salon, the author drew from several years of observations and conversations to shape the ideas in her book. Many of the clients she met in the salon asked similar questions about finding love and maintaining successful relationships. As she began keeping a diary based on these interactions, B. Grace started to see a pattern developing, and this became the groundwork for her book.

Mr. or Ms. Just Right offers answers to such questions as:

* How to identify the JUST Right person for you
* How to avoid entering the wrong relationship
* How to know when it's time to gracefully exit a relationship
* How to "seal the deal" with Mr. or Ms. JUST Right
* How to maintain a successful union based on acceptance, respect, and trust (ART)

Learn more about the book and author by visiting Outskirts Press.